Planning Commission Executive Director Chairs World Urban Forum Opening and Global Planners Network

The World Urban Forum is a biennial global event attended by over 10,000 participants representing non-governmental organizations, governments, urban professionals and academics.  It provides a common platform for these diverse interests to discuss urbanization trends and share best practices and experiences.  The Fourth Session was held under the theme: “Harmonious Cities.”

Robert Hunter led one of the World Urban Forum’s opening plenary sessions, called “Equality in Cities.”  This session set the stage for further dialogues during the day.  It highlighted the importance of civil society, governance, and private sector collaboration to achieve social equity and inclusiveness in city planning and decision-making.  Speakers on Mr. Hunter’s panel included Dr. Anna Tibijuka, Director of UN-HABITAT, Raila Odiga, Prime Minister of Kenya, Antonio Maria Costa, Director General and Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Greg Peng of Merryll-Lynch and Raquele Rolnik, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing from Brazil. 

Mr. Hunter was also a speaker and Chair of the urbanization track of the Global Planners Network, held in neighboring Zhenjian (photo at lower right) October 31-November 2.  That event was hosted and supported by the Government of Zhenjian City and Jiangsu Province.

At the meeting the Global Planners Network issued its “Zhenjian Communiqué” to urge governments and non-governmental organizations to work toward common goals that address the significant challenges of global urbanization.  The Communiqué outlines an agenda for planning in countries throughout the world in the future and raises attention on critical issues that impact everyone.  The “Zhenjian Communiqué” was presented at the World Urban Forum 4 in Nanjing on November 5.

Mr. Hunter noted, “The ‘Zhenjiang Communiqué’ invites the World Urban Forum to re-assert the importance of planning as a tool for improving human settlements and environmental management, and in particular, as a means of slowing the rate of slum formation, mitigation hazards, and building safe and inclusive settlements.” 

The Global Planners Network (GPN) is comprised of national planning organizations that strive to build global capacity to undertake effective planning.  The network provides a forum for members to exchange ideas, approaches, and planning practices.  The American planning Association was a founding member of the GPN.